Frances Perkins to be Inducted into Maine Women's Hall of Fame

The trailblazing public servant and first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet will be honored at a ceremony in March.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 2:47pm

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Frances Perkins, who served as secretary of labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, will be inducted into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame at the University of Maine at Augusta on March 21, according to the Frances Perkins Center in Newcastle. Perkins is best known as the architect of Social Security, unemployment insurance, minimum wage laws and worker safety protections.

Why it matters

Perkins' induction into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame recognizes her groundbreaking achievements as a trailblazing public servant and the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet. Her work on landmark social programs and worker protections had a lasting impact on the lives of Americans.

The details

Perkins, who was born and raised in Massachusetts but spent childhood summers in Maine, will be inducted along with Dr. Alane O'Connor, director of perinatal addiction medicine at Maine Medical Center. The Maine Women's Hall of Fame was established in 1990 to honor individuals whose achievements have expanded opportunities for Maine women and left a lasting impact.

  • Perkins will be inducted into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame on March 21, 2026.
  • Perkins' family homestead in Maine was designated a national monument in 2024.

The players

Frances Perkins

A trailblazing public servant, social reformer and the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet as Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She is best known as the architect of Social Security, unemployment insurance, minimum wage laws and worker safety protections.

Dr. Alane O'Connor

The director of perinatal addiction medicine at Maine Medical Center, who will also be inducted into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame.

Maine Women's Hall of Fame

An organization established in 1990 by the Business and Professional Women/Maine Futurama Foundation to honor individuals whose achievements have expanded opportunities for Maine women and left a lasting impact.

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What they’re saying

“Frances Perkins will be inducted into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame at the University of Maine at Augusta on March 21.”

— Frances Perkins Center

The takeaway

Frances Perkins' induction into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame recognizes her pioneering work as a trailblazing public servant and the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet. Her legacy of landmark social programs and worker protections continues to have a lasting impact on the lives of Americans.